University of Wisconsin eLearning Systems Current State Common Solutions Group May 7, 2003 Dirk Herr-Hoyman eLearning System Architect University of Wisconsin-Madison

What is an eLearning System? Yet another TLA like CMS and LMS Framework, tools, and content Similar technology to portals and other integrated apps like SIS, ERP An “eWhatever” type of name for online services May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison History at Wisconsin Tradition of distance learning from Extension Multiple systems on multiple campuses Interest in a UW Systemwide Hosting Utility May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison Key Questions for UW Can we afford to support multiple courseware systems? Is there one product or set of products that will meet the e-learning needs? Where is the marketplace today? What would we like it to go? What is the cost of enterprise learning systems? May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison eLearning System RFP UW CIOs charged a Task Force with recommending a single product or set of integrated products Year long process, Feb 2002- Feb 2003 May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

RFP Architecture Vision May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison RFP Process RFI – 31 responses, RFP – 16 responses Finalists: Bb, WebCT, Granada Learnwise, Desire2Learn Online demos and demo accounts for finalists May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Technology Profile of Finalists Blackboard: Sticking with hybred WebCT: Switching to J2EE Granada: Switching to J2EE and open source Desire2Learn: MS COM (pre-.NET) May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Selection of Desire2Learn Hiding under a rock until our RFP Best functional, adequate technical User experience design uber alles Bb and WebCT were caught off guard Spent time after 2001 working on functionality, not technology May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Desire2Learn Implementation Migration of all WebCT and Blackboard courses by June 04 Single hosting Utility at Madison Integration with multiple campus systems May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Challenges of a young company Risks Largest customer Growing staff quickly MS technology Too popular, many new sales Shift to partnership Opportunites Responsive to our requirements Build a good vendor relationship from beginning Remove product branding (WebCT/Bb) May 7, 2003 University of Wisconsin-Madison